What will my study involve?

Courses

UC offers the following postgraduate programmes in Chemistry:

• Graduate Diploma in Science
• Bachelor of Science with Honours
• Postgraduate Certificate in Science
• Postgraduate Diploma in Science
• Master of Science
• Doctor of Philosophy

See the individual qualification pages for more information on degree requirements.

To complete a GradDipSc with a Chemistry focus, you will need to complete at least 60 points in 100 to 300-level CHEM courses throughout the degree. In total 90 points must be at 300-level in the GradDipSc from Chemistry and/or other Science courses.

The Chemistry major in the BSc(Hons) includes:

• CHEM430 Research Methods 1: Research Proposal and Ethics
• CHEM431 Research Methods 2: Literature Review and Poster Design
• CHEM480 Research Project
• Four courses from CHEM 432–437

You will need to complete at least 45 points in 400-level CHEM courses for the major. In total 60 points must be completed for the PGCertSc from Chemistry and/or other Science courses.

All four courses from CHEM 421–424 are required for the PGDipSc in Chemistry.

Part I of the MSc in Chemistry is made up of all four courses from CHEM 421–424. This also includes a practical project in chemistry.

Part II requires CHEM690 MSc Thesis.

In the PhD, you will complete a thesis of original research in the Chemistry field (CHEM790 Chemistry PhD).

Career opportunities

Aotearoa New Zealand's unique mix of primary and secondary industries provides a wide choice of careers in chemistry. Expanding industries in Aotearoa, for example those related to new sources of energy and to the development of forestry and dairy resources, are further increasing the demand for qualified chemists.

Aotearoa needs chemists in teaching, industry, health, and research.

• Chemists are key members of developmental teams in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Industry uses chemists in such areas as research and development of new products, monitoring product composition and quality, and environmental monitoring and regulation.
• Hospitals and other health services employ chemists in areas such as biochemical research, medical analysis, and toxicology.
• A degree in Chemistry is a good start to a teaching career with its emphasis on laboratory work and its relevance to other sciences.
• The majority of chemical research in Aotearoa is done in universities, Crown Research Institutes, and private laboratories. These institutions provide chemical challenges equal to any in the world.

Chemists are well trained in problem solving and skilled at handling information, which leads naturally into a wide diversity of job opportunities, including sales and management.

Find out more about what you can do with a degree in Chemistry.